DOCSLIB.ORG

Hampshire Strategic Infrastructure Statement Version 2 (December 2013)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Hampshire Strategic Infrastructure Statement Version 2 (December 2013) Hampshire Strategic Infrastructure Statement Version 2 December 2013 Hampshire Strategic Infrastructure Statement Version 2 (December 2013) Foreword 2 Executive Summary 3 1 Introduction 4 1.1 Background 4 1.2 Funding Hampshire's Infrastructure 5 1.3 Looking ahead 6 2 Infrastructure Identified for Hampshire 7 2.1 Introduction 7 2.2 Transport Infrastructure 10 2.3 Schools 14 2.4 Countryside Schemes 16 2.5 Waste Infrastructure 20 2.6 Energy Infrastructure 24 2.7 Flood Risk Management Infrastructure 28 2.8 Social & Community Infrastructure 31 2.8.1 Libraries 32 2.8.2 Broadband access 34 2.8.3 Extra Care Housing 36 2.8.4 Health Care Provision 39 2.8.5 Police Service 43 2.8.6 Fire and Rescue Service 46 3 Identified Infrastructure Listed by Local Authority 48 3.1 Introduction 48 3.2 Basingstoke & Deane Borough 52 3.3 East Hampshire 60 3.4 Eastleigh Borough 66 3.5 Fareham Borough 76 3.6 Gosport Borough 83 3.7 Hart District 87 3.8 Havant Borough 94 3.9 New Forest District 100 3.10 New Forest National Park 106 3.11 Rushmoor Borough 109 3.12 South Downs National Park 116 3.13 Test Valley Borough 121 3.14 Winchester City 128 3.15 Cross-boundary Infrastructure Projects 135 2 Hampshire Strategic Infrastructure Statement Version 2 (December 2013) Foreword I am pleased to introduce the Hampshire Strategic Infrastructure Statement prepared by Hampshire County Council in partnership with other public sector providers. Working with the district councils, the County Council has long sought to ensure that additional growth has been supported by infrastructure. This Statement is intended to demonstrate that a significant amount of new infrastructure will be required over the next twenty years to meet local needs and support economic growth, based on existing deficiencies, natural growth and development requirements. The County Council's strategic plan for the period 2013-17 entitled 'Shaping Hampshire: modern, public services for the future' identifies developing the infrastructure and service required for economic, transport and housing growth as a key priority under Strategic Aim 2: Economy. The County Council is therefore committed to ensuring that the necessary infrastructure is provided to meet the needs of the County. To assist those planning infrastructure to support development and associated economic growth, this Statement provides an overview for a range of infrastructure types, and where available refers to key delivery programmes, strategies and investment plans developed by the County Council’s service providers and its partners. Whilst infrastructure is a broad term, this Statement focuses on the delivery of transport, schools, flood defences, health and social care facilities, libraries, green infrastructure, waste management, and community safety facilities. In response to recent Government reforms, the way that infrastructure is funded in future is set to change. This means local authorities increasingly need to collaborate in determining priorities for planning, funding and delivering future infrastructure. Minimising the risk of a growing infrastructure deficit in Hampshire is key to ensuring the continued prosperity and sustainability of the county, particularly at this time of major economic challenge. As a major provider of public services in Hampshire, the County Council remains fully engaged in the process of helping to shape the future of the county, working alongside key partners. To this end, the Statement reflects the infrastructure needs of the Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire Fire and Rescue and the NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups that cover Hampshire. There is a strong desire amongst Hampshire's district and borough councils and the County Council to work together on the planning, funding and delivery of future infrastructure. This has led to a Memorandum of Understanding which sets out the agreed shared principles partners will seek to apply. Whilst this Statement does not represent a commitment by the County Council that each scheme can be delivered, it presents the latest available information about the infrastructure necessary to support the pattern and level of development currently proposed in each district. Looking ahead, the County Council remain committed to improving the quality of life for residents of Hampshire and infrastructure provision plays a significant role in achieving this. By building on the strong public and private partnerships, the County Council will ensure that the infrastructure that underpins economic growth is delivered and Hampshire continues to prosper. Councillor Roy Perry Leader Hampshire Strategic Infrastructure Statement Version 2 (December 2013) 3 Executive Summary This document is a position statement, or 'snapshot', detailing the infrastructure requirements identified by Hampshire County Council and its partners, shown for each of the Hampshire's districts. The information set out within the document is correct at the time of publishing, however it is acknowledged that policy and budgetary changes could have implications for the infrastructure schemes identified. The County Council is therefore keen to continue to engage with partner authorities on a regular basis in order that they are kept informed of any pertinent modifications. The Statement focuses on the infrastructure types which Hampshire County Council and its public sector providers have a role in planning, coordinating and in some instances also delivering. The following infrastructure types are considered: transport; schools; countryside schemes; waste infrastructure; energy infrastructure; flood risk management infrastructure; social & community infrastructure (libraries; extra care; housing; health care provision; police service; fire and rescue service). For the infrastructure defined, this Statement explains Hampshire County Council’s role; provides some background information to explain the infrastructure and its importance in terms of supporting development; explains what triggers the need for additional capacity; and finally how the infrastructure might be funded. This Statement will play a key role in demonstrating the need to obtain external funding to ensure the timely delivery of infrastructure in Hampshire. This is important because the way infrastructure is funded is due to change in response to Government reforms. It is intended that this Statement provide a basis for the County Council's engagement with each local planning authority on their emerging Community Infrastructure Levy charging schedules and overall approach to funding local infrastructure projects. Much of the infrastructure identified within the Statement is required to support planned growth within Hampshire and so its delivery is dependent on both the timing of development and the availability of funding. This Statement does not represent a commitment by the County Council to fund or deliver the infrastructure listed but it does help to identify those schemes considered necessary to support the pattern and level of development proposed across Hampshire over a twenty year period and will inform resource allocation priorities. The intention is not to set priorities for the delivery of schemes within this Statement as those of the County, district and other public sector partners are likely to be different and can also change over time. The authorities will need to work together to agree priorities at the appropriate time and decide which funding streams are most appropriate to deliver infrastructure projects. 4 Hampshire Strategic Infrastructure Statement Version 2 (December 2013) Section 1 Introduction 1.1 Background 8 Local authorities have a responsibility to provide a large proportion of the infrastructure that is needed to support our communities. For instance, the County Council is responsible for providing and maintaining roads, schools and household waste facilities. The local district and borough councils are responsible for providing public open space, recreation and leisure facilities and ensuring the delivery of affordable housing(1). 9 The scale and pace of sustainable development often depends on sufficient capacity being available in existing infrastructure to meet the needs of new development. Where this is not the case, the ability to deliver timely development will depend on additional capacity being released through better management of existing infrastructure, or through the provision of additional capacity by extending or providing new infrastructure. The timely provision of additional infrastructure capacity to meet future development needs remains of prime importance to both local authorities and the public. 10 An assessment of an area's infrastructure needs firstly requires a full understanding of how the use of existing infrastructure can best be optimised. Secondly, an understanding of the scope to reduce demand for infrastructure is needed. Thirdly, there is a need to understand where additional demand will arise and whether it is driven by increasing populations or by changes in household size, or increased housing or employment development in an area. For some types of infrastructure this assessment can be very complex and necessitates the use of assumptions and models. 11 This Statement presents information currently available relating to the additional infrastructure needed to support future development. Often, new development can put pressure on infrastructure which is already very close to its full capacity because of existing pressures. This Statement focuses on the infrastructure types which Hampshire
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Havant Covid-19 Data Pack Contents
    HAVANT COVID-19 DATA PACK CONTENTS Introduction Population health needs, risks and vulnerabilities in the context of COVID-19 • Geography • Demography – Population, Age, Gender, Population density, Ethnicity • Socio economic data • Housing • Co-Morbidities • Vulnerability • Shielded patients • Mapping risks and settings COVID-19 outbreak control plan theme settings • Children settings – children’s centres, schools/special schools • Adults settings – care homes • Other/ high-risk settings – workplace zones/businesses/transport access points/Military COVID-19 surveillance • COVID-19 Infections • NHS Pathways Data • Deaths Map source: PHE SHAPE HAVANT COVID-19 DATA PACK INTRODUCTION • SARS-CoV-2 is a novel virus, much remains to be understood about transmission dynamics and effects on our population, so emerging intelligence is preliminary and subject to change • Increasing amounts of COVID-19 intelligence are becoming available and so these data packs aim to collate data from a variety of open sources for each district to explore and better understand potential population health needs, risks and vulnerabilities which exist at a local level, including Local Outbreak Control Plan theme settings. • Local knowledge and intelligence are key when interpreting localised transmission, to identify common factors early enough and prevent further spread of COVID-19. Local Authorities know their areas and should work with Local Authority Public Health and Public Health England (PHE) Health Protection Teams (HPT) to provide insights on localised outbreaks/clusters to ensure an agile and flexible response. This is done in conjunction with COVID-19 surveillance to monitor COVID-19 disease and the impact of local social distancing measures. • Whilst these datapacks provide a population health overview, they do not provide timely data to control localised outbreaks/clusters, led by the PHE HPT and therefore should not be used as a proxy for management of COVID-19.
    [Show full text]
  • Havant Borough Transport Statement
    HAVANT BOROUGH TRANSPORT STATEMENT Adopted September 2012 1 CONTENTS page no. 1. Introduction 3 2. Policy Context 4 3. Transport Context and Issues in Havant 8 4. Transport Objectives and Delivery Priorities 11 5. Implementation & Funding 12 FIGURE Figure 1: Policy Framework and Policy Objectives 13 Figure 2 : Potential LSTF transport interventions 15 Figure 3: Havant Borough Transport Statement Map 18 TABLE TABLE 1: Schedule of Transport Improvements 2 HAVANT BOROUGH TRANSPORT STATEMENT 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 This report sets out the transport objectives and delivery priorities for the Havant Borough Council (HBC) area. The Transport Statement provides: • A local transport policy framework for the Borough; • A framework to assist with the prioritisation of transport investment; • To assist in transport and land use planning decisions associated with new development proposals; • Infrastructure planning in support of HBC’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Draft Charging Schedule as well as any future infrastructure delivery planning work in the Borough. The Charging Schedule is programmed to be adopted by February 2013; • Guidance on the application of the Transport Contributions Policy (TCP) in the interim period until the CIL Charging Schedule is adopted. 1.2 The Statement is a Hampshire County Council document and has been developed in consultation with Havant Borough Council. The Statement covers the period up to 2026, which conforms with the timeframes of planned development, as outlined in the Havant LDF Core Strategy (adopted March 2011). The Statement will be reviewed and updated on a regular basis, particularly as updated policies and strategies emerge or schemes are completed or modified. 1.3 The Transport Statement links to current economic priorities, including those being developed by the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
    [Show full text]
  • Hollins 2015
    WILDLIFE DIARY AND NEWS FOR DEC 28 - JAN 3 (WEEK 53 OF 2015) Fri 1st January 2016 54 Birds and 45 Flowers to start the year In my garden just before sunrise the moon was close to Jupiter high in the southern sky and Robins and a Song Thrush were serenading it from local gardens as a Carrion Crow flew down to collect the sraps of bread I threw out on the lawn before setting out on my bike in search of birds. Also on my lawn I was surprised to see that a Meadow Waxcap fungus had sprung up a couple of weeks after I thought my garden fungus season was over - later I added another fungus to my day list with a smart fresh Yellow Fieldcap (Bolbitius vitellinus) growing from a cowpat on the South Moors Internet photos of Yellow Fieldcap and Meadow Waxcap My proposed route was along the shore from Langstone to Farlington Marshes lake and as the wind was forecast to become increasingly strong from the south- east, and the tide to be rising from low at 9.0am I thought it best to follow the shore with the wind behind me on the way out and to stick to the cycle track and roads on the way home so I rode down Wade Court Road listening out for garden birds among which I heard bursts of song from more than one Dunnock (not a bird I associate with winter song) and saw two smart cock Pheasants in the horse feeding area immediately south of Wade Court.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ramblers' Association
    Portsmouth Group Summer - Autumn (July – October 2017) Walks Programme The Ramblers' Association Working for Walkers The RA promotes rambling, protects Rights of Way, campaigns for access to open country and defends the beauty of the countryside Web site: Head office www.ramblers.org.uk Local http://www.portsmouthramblers.org.uk/ E-mail Email: Head office [email protected] Local [email protected] PORTSMOUTH GROUP WALKING PROGRAMME Correct as at 31st May 2017. Check the website for any updates. The Portsmouth Group offers a variety of walks mainly in Hampshire, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight. On Saturdays these are moderately paced 5 to 9 mile walks whilst, on Sundays, they are faster paced 11 to 15 mile walks. The Group also has short Friday evening walks and some extra Saturday walks in more distant parts in the summer months. Most walks have a pub/cafe stop either at the end or at lunch time. INFORMATION FOR WALKERS New walkers always welcome. Just turn up at meeting place for shorter walks. For walks in excess of 10 miles, please contact leader first if you have not previously walked this distance. Grade A walks – for experienced walkers; brisk pace Grade B walks – regular pace Grade C walks – moderate pace Grade D walks – slow pace These are only general indications of the pace and will vary with the individual. All walks are circular unless otherwise stated. Wear stout footwear and carry waterproof clothing for possible wet weather. There will be stops for coffee and lunch, so please bring a flask and food.
    [Show full text]
  • Hollins 1998
    RALPH HOLLINS WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS – 1998 WEEK 52 BIRDS: THU 31 DEC. Mark Litjens toured Keyhaven, Timsbury and Farlington today in preparation for his New Year’s Day list and here is what he had to say about his day. “Today I was checking on certain species for the new years day bash. I started at near Keyhaven and had another BARN OWL at first light. On to Milford and the adult MED. GULL was parked in the pay and display car park. I couldn't see it's ticket though!!! A walk to Hurst Castle to check if the Black Redstart was still around but no sign of it. Not much passed Hurst though, 2 Guillemots, 1 Common Scoter and 1 Diver sp. A kingfisher was sitting on the bridge at the end of New Lane for a short while and 100+ Golden plovers were very well camouflaged in a ploughed field nearby. A walk from Lower Pennington Lane car park to the sea wall produced 2 PEREGRINE Falcons but only 2 Slavonian Grebes were visible on the sea. Stopping off at Timsbury on the way to Farlington produced the FERRUGINOUS DUCK and RING-NECKED DUCK very quickly. At Farlington Marshes the AVOCET showed well on the mud west of the main lagoon and some 60 KNOT were nearby. I only saw 1 SHORT-EARED OWL but 3 had been seen during the morning.” WED 30 DEC NEEDS ORE POINT at the mouth of the Beaulieu river on the New Forest shore was visited by Mark Litjens today and as he arrived a splendid BARN OWL crossed his path as a prelude to a seawatch in which he saw 1 EIDER and 8 DIVER SPECIES but a bigger and better bird was waiting for him by the disabled hide – a RAVEN which made its distinctive gruff call and fed on the ground before flying off east.
    [Show full text]
  • Southleigh – A27 Junction | August 2018
    Southleigh – A27 Junction | August 2018 Southleigh – A27 Junction August 2018 Havant Borough Local Plan 2036 Version 0.95 DRAFT FOLLOWING COST REVIEW Southleigh – A27 Junction | August 2018 Southleigh – A27 Junction Purpose of this paper To consider options for connecting the Southleigh development area to the wider road network specifically the requirement for a new access point to the A27. Why? The existing road network is unlikely to provide the capacity that would be required of it with the 2100 additional homes and new retail and businesses to be provided within the Southleigh development area. It is therefore necessary to consider how additional capacity in the road network can be provided and one way this could be done is by providing a new access onto the A27. This new access could potentially offer additional road network resilience and offer opportunities to reduce traffic and improve air quality on nearby routes. Objectives ▪ Identify in broad terms the justification for a new junction on the A27 ▪ If it is considered that a new junction is required, to undertake initial feasibility design work to arrive at costed estimates for the work required ▪ Consider how the provision of new capacity in the highway network made possible by any new junction can be used to improve all modes of travel, particularly sustainable modes such as walking, cycling and public transport Any queries about the report should be sent to: Email [email protected] Telephone 023 9244 6539 Address: Havant Borough Council Public Service Plaza Civic Centre Way Havant PO9 2AX Unless otherwise stated, map extracts in this document are © Ordnance Survey Licence No LA100019217 Southleigh – A27 Junction | August 2018 Contents Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Southleigh Master Plan
    Denvilles-Emsworth Masterplan Document | December 2017 Havant Borough Council Job name Havant Masterplan Job number 3444 Date of issue 05.12.17 Revision - Author MS Checked by GT File path J:\3444 Havant Masterplanning\Graphics\03 Layouts\ Masterplan Document 2 Contents 1. Introduction 5. Constraints and opportunities 2. Policy overview 6. Community engagement 3. Analysis 7. Design principles Wider context Historic evolution 8. Masterplan Site conditions Photographic study Masterplan layers Neighbouring application sites Masterplan Land budget 4. Character study Viability Emsworth Havant Denvilles Surrounding areas Denvilles - Emsworth | December 2017 3 1. Introduction Introduction Project scope Levitt Bernstein were appointed in December Comley Hill 2016 to develop a design workshop led strategic masterplan for the site between Emsworth and Denvilles. The site has been identified as the only strategic Emsworth Common Rd housing site within Havant’s 2016 local plan housing statement. Bartons Rd The scope of the project is to work with residents using a series of inclusive design workshops to develop a strategic vision for developing a new neighbourhood on the identified site. Horndean Rd New Ln Rd Eastleigh Southleigh Rd Southleigh Rd Horndean Rd New Ln Rd New Brighton Rd Southleigh A27 A27 Victoria Road A27 Selangor Ave N Emsworth Road Havant Road Red line boundary 6 A3 (M) Comley Hill B2149 Bartons Petersfield Rd Rd Rd Bartons A3 (M) Rd B2149 Westbourne Havant Eastleigh Rd Southleigh Southleigh Rd Horndean Rd A3 (M) Petersfield A27 Rd Rd A27 New Brighton Rd Southleigh A27 A27 Emsworth Road Havant Road A27 A27 Emsworth Southbourne A27 N Aerial Plan illustrating the land between Denvilles and Emsworth ProjectDenvilles title - Emsworth | August 2016 | December 2017 7 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Brook Meadow Conservation Group Conservation News
    BROOK MEADOW CONSERVATION GROUP Newsletter for Weeks 49-50 - Dec 1-14, 2014 Group Website: http://www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/ CONSERVATION NEWS Work Session Sunday 7th December 2014. Ten volunteers assembled at HQ by ten a.m. on an overcast morning, quite warm but rather grey, to be assured that the weather was going to improve. It did eventually, with sun after a short shower. The main task was to complete the dead hedging by the S-bend in the river Ems, using material from the young willows east of the flower-rich part of the north meadow. This was achieved, with sterling work by fellers, pointers and weavers. Go and see for yourselves and work out what these 3 terms refer to! A pair of volunteers did the usual litter pick, another attended to some small clearances of the Ems by the north bridge, where the flow was being impeded. Three more started on the heavy task of covering the new sandbag bund between the meadow and Lumley Lane which is designed to prevent further flooding of properties in the lane. Brambles were used for this, and we aim to cover the whole line of glistening white sandbags which look inappropriate on a conservation area. We all enjoyed a coffee break, provided by the ever-efficient Pam, although she herself had to be elsewhere: now that's dedication for you. The experience of working co-operatively in pursuit of a common aim, and of developing techniques and skills to achieve the desired end, is one of the things that make workdays so pleasurable.
    [Show full text]
  • Havant Borough Local Plan
    Changes for the Inspector to consider as part of the Examination Havant Borough Local Plan Changes for the Inspector to consider as part of the Examination Last updated: 12 February 2021 Changes for the Inspector to consider as part of the Examination We will consider requests for this document in alternative formats please contact [email protected] or call 023 9244 6539. Maps included in this document are © Crown copyright and database rights Ordnance Survey License number 100019217 (2019). Please note that before adopting the Local Plan, the Council intends to undertake formatting and graphic design work to the document. This will include inserting photographs and infographics. It will also involve including any new policies in the most logical place in the plan and any necessary renumbering of other policies and references to them as a result. It will not involve changing the meaning of any text or policies. Changes for the Inspector to consider as part of the Examination Contents Commented [HBC1]: Only updated contents shown Contents ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3 1 | BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................................... 8 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Monitoring
    [Show full text]
  • APP/18/01033 Expiry Date: 21/12/2019 Applicant: Persimmon Homes, Mrs Hann, Mrs Ayres Agent: Persimmon Homes Case Officer: Lewis Oliver Ward: St Faiths
    —————————————————————————————————————— Site Address: Land East of, Castle Avenue, Havant Proposal: Residential development comprising 69 No. dwellings with access from St George’s Avenue together with access, car parking, landscaping, electrical substation and associated works. Application No: APP/18/01033 Expiry Date: 21/12/2019 Applicant: Persimmon Homes, Mrs Hann, Mrs Ayres Agent: Persimmon Homes Case Officer: Lewis Oliver Ward: St Faiths Reason for Committee Consideration: The application is contrary to the provisions of the adopted development plan, and at the request of Councillor Pike Density: 38 dwellings per hectare HPS Recommendation: GRANT PERMISSION —————————————————————————————————————— Executive Summary The proposal is for a development of 69 new homes and 0.21 hectares (ha) of open space on a greenfield site of 1.8 hectares (ha) located to the east of Castle Avenue, to the south of the south coast main railway and to the north of the A27. The development proposes that 20 units will be affordable dwellings, with the remaining requirement to be met by a financial contribution. The key matter of principle in dealing with this application is whether it should be considered prior to the Submission/Adoption of the new Local Plan and if so whether the proposal represents sustainable development. In terms of the principle of development, the site is not allocated in the development plan. As such, it is advertised as a departure from the development plan. However, since the Havant Borough Local Plan (Core Strategy) and the Havant Borough Local Plan (Allocations Plan) were adopted an assessment of the housing need for the borough now shows that significantly more homes are needed and therefore all possible sites must be re-assessed and considered as to whether their development would be sustainable.
    [Show full text]
  • Bulletin 2012
    BROOK MEADOW CONSERVATION GROUP – WEEKS 51-52: Dec 17-27, 2012 Group Website: http://www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/ CONSERVATION REVIEW OF 2012 - by Wally Osborne Practical Work As we all know, the weather during 2012 was record breaking in all sorts of ways with the mainly dry winter months followed by very wet spring / early summer ones, improving somewhat erratically until the wet weather deluge which then continued to the year end. Despite these happenings, only 2 of our 24 work sessions were lost to bad weather with an average of 11 volunteers putting in nearly 500 hours of conservation work, organised to TCV standards and led by our 5 qualified leaders. Seagull Lane Project – We spent the first 4 sessions of 2012, continuing with the work begun in late 2011 to reclaim this area from bramble growth, in preparation for the ‘Queens Diamond Jubilee’ planting of the final stretch of native hedgerow whips plus 3 native Oak trees. The arduous hours spent digging out bramble & nettle roots were eventually rewarded by a fine looking ‘blank canvas’ space, complete with extended new fencing of the western boundary and all of these preparations were completed ‘on time’. Our ‘planting day’ on the 4th March began dry, allowing us to erect our gazebo but a deluge of rain began just as the guest of honour, Ken Smith the Mayor of Havant arrived on site. Fortunately he was dressed and shod appropriately and so the Oak Tree planting ceremony went to plan with the 2 other Oaks planted by Brian Fellows our founding Chairman and his wife Jean.
    [Show full text]
  • Bulletin 2013
    BROOK MEADOW CONSERVATION GROUP Newsletter for Weeks 49-50: Dec 2-15, 2013 Group Website: http://www.brook-meadow.hampshire.org.uk/ CONSERVATION NEWS - from the group Next Work Session – Thursday 19th December from 10-12. Meet at the Lumley Gate. We shall be finishing early as we have been invited for our annual Christmas treat. Penny Aylett provides mulled wine and delicious mince pies and we all squeeze into her warm kitchen/diner. Brook Meadow volunteers will be back in the New Year as usual on the first Sunday in January (Jan 5). WILDLIFE NEWS - from Brian Fellows Water Rail We have had several more sightings of the Water Rail on Brook Meadow, mostly on the stretch of river between the old gasholder and the sluice gate. Sometimes it shows very well for a photo or two. Tony Wootton got a cracker on Dec 5 - see the Emsworth blog. But generally, it is an elusive bird, sliding in and out of vegetation on the riverside. It is quite different in behaviour to the more bold and brash Moorhens of which there are at least 6 on the river. Look out for its brown upper parts, slate grey chest and face, long bright red bill and white barring on the flanks. Bird song It was good to hear several Robins singing their wistful autumn songs when I walked through Brook Meadow a couple of days ago. Even better was the bolder strains of a Song Thrush song floating over from the railway embankment. Song Thrush is a regular but an intermittent winter songster.
    [Show full text]